Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: BMC gears up for celebrations; rolls out health, safety and eco-friendly festival measures in Mumbai

With Ganeshotsav round the corner the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC on Tuesday announced a series of measures for the upcoming festival including free health checkup camps at sarvajanik public mandals in MumbaiThe initiative titled lsquoShri Ganesha Arogyacharsquo is planned for Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 under the concept of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with support from the Chief Ministerrsquos Relief Fund and the Mayorrsquos Medical FundMumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde said free health checkups will be organised at or near Ganesh mandals during the festivalThe camps will include eye examinations with free spectacles to be provided to those who require them Women will also be offered breast cancer screeningThe Mumbai mayor appealed to Ganesh mandals to provide suitable space for the health campsBMC reviews festival preparationsThe announcement was made during a review meeting held at the BMC headquarters on Tuesday Civic officials public Ganesh mandal representatives idol makers police and traffic authorities reviewed preparations for the festivalTawde directed various departments to ensure that the arrival and immersion process of Ganesh idols does not face unnecessary obstaclesShe also called for adequate parking facilities for devotees and a special citywide drive to inspect road potholes and traffic signals before the festivalConsidering the large number of devotees expected to visit prominent Ganesh mandals the Mayor directed that Hirkani rooms and public toilets for women remain open 24 hours during the festivalShe also said that she along with the Deputy Mayor and other public representatives would inspect key immersion locations based on suggestions received from Ganesh mandalsEcofriendly festival measuresThe BMC said it has so far provided 858 tonnes of shadu clay and 25400 litres of ecofriendly colours free of cost to idol makersAn online singlewindow system has also been introduced for mandal permissions So far 1136 idol makers have received online permissionsMandals that had obtained permission earlier have also been offered a combined permission valid for the next five yearsAs of September 1 the civic body had received applications from 1885 sarvajanik Ganesh mandals for the 2026 festival These applications are being scrutinised by the police and BMC authoritiesThe BMC said preparatory work has been carried out along idol arrival and immersion routesCables creating obstructions have been removed at 281 locations Repairs have also been completed on 4279 potholes and 171 drainage covers across 506 roads along the routesTree trimming has been carried out at 515 locationsRead more on Ganeshotsave 2026 here378 immersion locations plannedFor idol immersion the BMC plans to make available 44 beaches and jetties 23 natural lakes and 281 artificial immersion sites providing a total of 348 listed immersion locations across these categoriesThe arrangements will include 34 cranes 85 ambulances 10 motorboats 498 nirmalya collection pots 326 nirmalya dumpers 261 reception centres and 228 control roomsThe civic body will also deploy 1132 lifeguards 3118 personnel and 576 officers along with other volunteers and agencies More than 6000 floodlights and searchlights and 489 temporary toilets will also be providedArtificial lakes to be mapped through QR codesTo make immersion facilities easier to locate details of artificial immersion lakes will be made available through QR codes and Google MapsThe BMC has also said that in accordance with directions issued by the Bombay High Court on August 20 idols up to six feet in height must be immersed in artificial ponds until the final decision in the related Public Interest Litigation PILBMC appeals for safe and ecofriendly celebrationsThe Mumbai civic body administration said it is preparing to ensure a safe clean orderly and environmentally friendly GaneshotsavIt has appealed to citizens and Ganesh mandals to cooperate with the authorities and actively participate in efforts to promote an ecofriendly festival